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Canada got the last hurrah at the Celebration of Light Saturday evening, closing the three-night event with a winning display. Canada was declared the winner of the event, with Brazil and China finishing second and third, respectively.

Second Hydro Ottawa crew heads to U.S. for storm cleanup

Hydro Ottawa screws prepare to leave for Connecticut on Wednesday to help restore power to 500,000 people in the state in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Photograph by: Luther Caverly
, Hydro Ottawa

OTTAWA — A crew of Hydro Ottawa power line maintainers are headed to Connecticut to help restore power to the 500,000 still in the dark in that state following hurricane Sandy.

The 13 workers will join a crew of 12 Hydro Ottawa contract forestry workers who are already in the state to clear trees as part of the power restoration effort.

This is the first time Hydro Ottawa has sent crews south of the border, said president and chief executive officer Bryce Conrad.

“Hydro Ottawa offered assistance without hesitation. Restoring power is a specialized skill and the electricity industry supports each other in these times of need,” Conrad said in a news release.

Hurricane Sandy, now downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, caused widespread damage in the northeastern United States as it hammered the coast on Monday. Millions were left without power and at least 50 people were killed.

High winds of up to 100 km/h also uprooted trees and downed power lines in southern Ontario, from Sarnia to Kingston, leaving about 150,000 without power. A woman in Toronto was killed by a falling sign.

By Wednesday morning, power had been restore to all but 7,150 Hydro One customers.

Ottawa was spared the brunt of the storm — at its peak, it knocked out power to about 3,000 Hydro Ottawa customers.